Machine for bending wire into irregular sinuous form



7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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R. J. WILLIAMS MACHINE FOR BENDING WIRE INTO IRREGULAR SINUOUS FORM .WNN %\X o o o o o. o o o o o o o o o o o o o .m

May 8, 1956 Filed June 4, 1952 y 8, 1956 R. J. WILLIAMS 2,744,546

MACHINE FOR BENDING WIRE INTO IRREGULAR SINUOUS FORM Filed June 4, 1952'7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. 12/54/4 JflQ ZZLk/ras;

May 8, 1956 R. J. WILLIAMS 2,744,546

MACHINE FOR BENDING WIRE INTO IRREGULAR SINUOUS FORM Filed June 4, 19527 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 8, 1956 R. J. WILLIAMS 2,744,546

MACHINE FOR BENDING WIRE INTO IRREGULAR SINUOUS FORM Filed June 4, 19527 Sheets-Sheet 4 11F 1 5mm: .EE.

7 INVE NTOR. 322%42'4 J/Vz/Zkns.

y 8, 1956 R. J. WILLIAMS 2,744,546

MACHINE FOR BENDING WIRE INTO IRREGULAR SINUOUS FORM Filed June 4, 1952I v 7 Sheets-Shet 5 i r 4/ 46- v 4'4 r z 47 -75 79 Q M2 INVENTOR. zjard.1 1x742). BY

Mair/M76.

ay 8, 1956 R. J. WILLIAMS 2,744,546

MACHINE FOR BENDING WIRE INTO IRREGULAR SINUOUS FORM Filed June 4, 19527 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 8, 1956 R. J. WILLIAMS 2,744,546

MACHINE FOR BENDING WIRE INTO IRREGULAR SINUOUS FORM Filed June 4, 19527 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR.

United States Patent MACHINE FOR BENDIN G WIRE INTO IRREGULAR SINUOUSFORM Application June 4, 1952, Serial No. 291,606

' 24 Claims. (Cl. 140-91 This invention relates to wire formingmachines, and particularly to a machine for bending a plurality of wiresinto predetermined sinuous form.

While the present machine has many applications for bending wire topredetermined variable sinuous forms, the application herein describedby way of example is that pertaining to the construction of springstrips having parallel torsion bars spaced the same or varying distancesapart in different portions of the lengths thereof controlled by spacerbars which are disposed in aligned relation at the edges of the strip.When sinuous springs of like configuration were constructed, machineswere provided through which the wire was drawn and acted upon by fingerswhich produced like bends therein. It was found, however, that becauseof the uniform construction of the spring, satisfactory seat and backcushions could not be constructed therefrom because of the uniform forceexerted at all points throughout the length thereof resistingdeflection. It is well known in the seating art that a predeterminedcontour should occur to a seating area when a load is applied thereto.The force resisting deflection, when the desired contour is produced toa seating area, should vary from the main load supporting section, whichis about two-thirds rearwardly from the front edge, to a lesser forceforwardly and rearwardly thereof.

The spring strip illustrated as formed by the present machine isdesigned to exert more force at the main load supporting portion andless force forwardly and rearwardly thereof. This strip is described andclaimed in the copending application to Hyland C. Flint et al., SerialNo. 290,874, filed May 31, 1952, now Patent No. 2,684,844, issued July27, 1954, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. It wasfound that by spacing the torsion bars closer together a softer seatingarea was provided, and when spaced farther apart that a harder seatingarea or one exerting greater forces could be provided. Therefore, toconstruct a load supporting portion in a sinuous type of spring strip,the torsion bars must be maintained parallel when selectively spaced toproduce the proper contour when properly loaded and to exert loadsupporting pressures which reduce in intensity forwardly and rearwardlyof a point substantially two-thirds rearwardly from the front edge ofthe seating area. The present machine, operating on a plurality of wiresin a single operation, was found to produce spring lengths equally asfast as the machine which produced uniform torsion bars and loops in thespring strip. The machine has a plurality of swingable arms pivoted atone end to a support and joined at the top end by a plurality of linkswhich are swingable on the pivots through an angle of substantially 90.These links are joined by forming links which are connected to theswinging links in a manner to cause the links to swing in apredetermined manner when force is applied at each end thereof to causethe links to move from an extended, substantially aligned relationshipto a collapsed or wire forming relationship. Power is supplied by a pairof 2,744,546 Patented May 8, 1956 ice hydraulic rams, the retraction ofwhich, after the formed springs are ejected from the forming links,returns the links to substantially aligned relationship. A hoppersupports a plurality of precut lengths of wire which are fed therefrominto a carrier which transfers a predetermined number of the wiresadjacent to the forming links into which they are moved by suitableadvancing fingers carried by the transverse members. After the Wires aredisposed within the extended links, the rams are again operated toproduce the collapsing of the links and the forming of the wires whichare stressed beyond the form desired so that, when ejected, theoverstressed por tions will spring back to a desired shape with thetorsion bar portions thereof disposed in parallel relationship. Ejectingmechanism moves the formed wires from the links and the links are thenmoved to substantially aligned relationship.

Accordingly, the main objects of the invention are: to

provide a machine for forming a plurality of wires into sinuousformations having parallel torsion bars which are spaced apart differentamounts throughout the length of the formed strip; to provide a seriesof swinging and forming links which are pivoted together and which aredisposable in substantially aligned relation for receiving the wires andwhich are thereafter collapsed to cause the wires to be bent intopredetermined sinuous formation; to provide a hopper for supporting aplurality of lengths of wire adjacent to forming links from which apredetermined number of the wires are fed to a carrier and whichtransfers the wires to the links before each bending operation; toprovide an assembly of links for bending wires to predetermined varyingsinuous form having ejecting mechanism which moves the formed wire fromthe links after the bending thereof, and, in general, to provide a wirebending machine which is simple in construction, positive in operationand economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will bespecifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for abetter understanding of the inven tion, to the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a broken view in elevation of a wire bending machineembodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken end view, with parts in section, of thestructure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken view of the structure illustrated in Fig.1, with the swinging and forming links in collapsed position, taken atthe right-hand end of the machine as illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3,taken at the left-hand end of the machine;

' ture illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 88 thereof;

Fig. 9 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig.3, taken on the line 9-9 thereof;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFig. 1, taken on the line Ill-10 thereof;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFig. 10, taken on the line 11-11 thereof;

Fig. 12 is a broken view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 10, asviewed from point 12 thereof;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFig. 10, taken on the line 13-13 thereof;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFig. 10, taken on the line 14-14 thereof, and

Fig. 15 is a broken view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 10, asviewed from the point 15 thereof.

The machine of the present invention comprises a base 20 which supportsa pair of columns 21 and 22 at each end. An I-bearn 23 is supportedbetween the columns 22 on plates 24, being secured thereto by aplurality of bolts 25. A plate 26 is welded or otherwise secured to thetop of the I-beam on which a slide bar 27 is secured by bolts 28. Theslide bar has a T-shaped head 29 communicating with the slot 31 in whicha bolt 32 extends into engagement with a T-shaped nut 33. The boltsupports an arbor 34 in clamped position for receiving a sleeve 35 onthe end of a swinging arm 36. Bearing surfaces 37 are providedinternally of the sleeve 35 and at the ends thereof to which lubricantmay be delivered through a fitting 38. A plurality of the arms 36 aresupported for pivoted movement in the slide bar 27 in which the ends areadjusted in predetermined spaced relation to each other. The oppositeends of the arms support swingable links 39 which have a threadedconnection with a bushing 41 which pivots within an aperture 42 in theupper end of the arm. The fitting 38 on the end of the arm communicateswith the bushing 41 which may be lubricated.

The bushing 41 has a plunger 43 mounted therein for movement outwardlythereof engaged by a spring 44 which urges the plunger to retractedposition, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The end of the plunger is providedwith a head 45 which is disposed in position to engage and eject thewires after the forming operation. A plate 46 is in alignment with nibs47 on the opposite end of the push rod 43 from the head 45 and isactuated by suitable mechanism, hereinafter to be described, foradvancing into engagement with the nib and moving the rods lengthwise toeject the formed wires.

The links 39 are mounted to swing on an arc of substantially 90 on thebushing 41 at the end of the arm and are of the straight bar type havingan aperture at each end. The links 39 have forming links 54 disposedtherebetween and secured thereto by pivots 53 to form a continuous linkchain, as illustrated in Fig. 6, when the links 39 and 54 are disposedin substantially aligned relationship. The links 39 and 54 are movedinto sinuous relationship, as illustrated in Fig. 5, when the swinginglinks 39 are moved from a position substantially normal to the arms 36to a position in substantial alignment therewith. The links 54 areprovided with extending fingers 51 and 56 with an adjustable setscrew 55provided in each of the fingers 51 disposed in position to engage aprojecting finger 56 on an adjacent link 54. By adjusting the setscrews55, the degree of bending by the forming links 54 is thereby controlledand, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the point of bends of the wire is beyondan angle of 90 to provide a limited amount of spring back which willoccur to the bends so that after the bending operation the torsion barportions 57 of the spring strip will be in parallel relation to eachother.

The spring strip is illustrated in Fig. 7 wherein it will be noted thatall of the torsion bars 57 are in parallel relation but which are spaceddifferent distances apart by the spacing bars 58. The spacing bars 59and 60 near the ends are of greater length than the spacing barstherebetween and the former are formed into supporting members at eachend of the load supporting portion 'of the resulting spring element. Theendmost torsion bars 61 terminate in U-shaped supporting ends 62, whichis the formation of the zigzag springs employed prior hereto and whichsupport the present spring strip in the various types of supportingelements developed heretofore for the zigzag spring. By shortening orlengthening the forming links 54, the length of the spacing bars ischanged and the resulting force provided by the torsion bars at thatpoint is in like manner changed, increased if the length of the spacingbar is increased, and decreased if the length of the spacing bar isdecreased.

For moving the links to extended or collapsed position, a pair of rams63 is mounted on the machine, one at each end thereof, having an arm 64on the end connected by a pivot 65 to a pair of angle-shaped links 66and 67. The links 66 and 67 are connected by pivots 68 to the endmostarms 69 by slots 71 in the lower end thereof. The pair of links 66 and67 is employed to provide sulficient movement to bend the ends of thewires about the pins 72 carried by the links 67. The links arebifurcated and are joined by pivot pins 73 to swingable links 74 whichare similar to the swingable links 59 hereinabove referred to. The links74 are secured to pivots 75 which are rotatable within apertures 76 inthe offset end portions of the arms 69. Similar pins 73 are employed inall of the swingable links 51 and 52 extending into the bifurcatedportions 77 of the forming links 54. Each of the forming links isprovided with a slot 78 into which a plurality of the wires to be formedare received. A spring-pressed ball 79 at the mouth of each slot retainsthe Wires therewithin.

The forming links 81, as illustrated in Fig. 3, have extending fingers82 supporting adjusting screws 83 which abut the ends of the arms 64 tothereby limit the movement of the arms relative to the links. Similarly,as illustrated in Fig. 4, the forming links 84 carry finger 85 whichsupport adjusting screws 83 for limiting the move ment of the arms 64relative to the links 84. The links 74, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4,have right-angle portions 86 which are engaged by adjustable screws 83carried by the adjacent swingable links 87. An adjusting stud 88 isprovided in the links 67 to control the final relationship with thelinks 66 near the end of the forming movement on the wires.

After the wires have been formed, the ram 89 is actuated to swing alever 91 on a pivot 92 to have the arm 93 thereof move the plate 46against the nibs 47 of the plungers 43 to move the plungers 43forwardly, to thereby eject the formed wires from the forming links 54.The plate 46 is supported upon a plurality of rods 94 in supportingbushings 95 between which a spring 96 is provided for retracting the rodand the plate 46. After the formed wires are ejected, the hydraulic ramsretract the arms 64 to thereby move the links on the arms 36 intoaligned relationship in position to receive a plurality of additionalwires to be formed.

The wires are retained in a hopper 97 with their ends ali ned by thehopper end walls and are continuously agitated by a plurality of fingers98 secured on a rod 99 having an arm 101 thereon which is connected to alink 102 mounted on an eccentric '103. The eccentric is driven through agear reduction unit 104 by a motor 105 to cause the fingers 98 to movewithin'the housing at the delivery aperture 106 thereof. The rods inthis manner are maintained lengthwise of the delivery aperture fromwhich they move into the slot 107. The arm 101 has a link 108 pivotedthereon which has a plunger 109 mounted therein having a sleeve 111pivoted on the inner end thereof. An end cap 112 is threaded on the endof the link 108 for retaining a spring 113 within the aperture in thelink about the plunger 109. The end of the plunger is pivoted to a link114 which is secured to a shaft 115 on which an arm 116 is secured. Thearm 116 supports an adjustable finger 117 which is oscillated by thelink 108 across the slot 107 to permit the wires to move out of the slotand into the slot 118 to retain the slot filled with the wires. The slot118 communicates with a slot 119 which is aligned with a slot 121 in asector plate 122 which is pivoted on a shaft 123, as illustrated in Fig.14.

The sector plate 122is welded to a collar 124 having a bearing 125therein which engages the shaft 123. An operating arm 126 is secured tothe shaft :123 by a key 127. The arm 126 is pivoted to an adjustablelink 128, the opposite end of which is pivoted to a cross head 129 of aslide 131. The slide 131, as illustrated in Fig. 11, is supported in apair of guides 132 secured on the side of the sector plate 122. Theguide has an apterture 1'33 centrally thereof intermediate the ends. Apin 134 is secured in the sector plate and extends within the forwardend of the slot 133 in abutting relation to 'a spring 135 which isdisposed in the slot in abutting relation to the rear end of .the slide.The spring 135 urges the slide toward the shaft 123 into retractedposition. The sector plate 122 has a cam surface 136 which wipes acrossthe end of the slot 119 when rotated clockwise from the positionillustrated in Fig. 10.

When a plurality of wires are to be delivered to the forming links 54,the shaft 123 is rotated clockwise by the extension of the piston rod ofthe ram 137 illustrated in Fig. 2, which moves the arm 138 outwardly torotate the arm 139 which is secured to the shaft 123. The rotation ofthe shaft 123 rotates the arm 126 which operates through the link 128and the slide 131 to cause the sector plate 122 to rotate therewith.This simultaneous rotation will continue until a lip 141 on the sectorplate engages a lip 142 on the forming link '54, to thereby align theslot 121 with the slot 78 in the links, as illustrated in dot and dashline of Fig. 10. When the movement of the sector plate is stopped inthis manner, the continued rotation of the shaft 127 advances the arm126 relative to the sector and causes the slide 131 to move outwardly ofthe guide plates 132 against the tension of the spring 135. Thismovement advances a finger 143 along the slot 121 to thereby move thewires from the slot into the slot 78 in the forming links 54. Thespringpressed balls 79 retain the wires within the slots 78, after whichthe retraction of the ram 137 returns the slide 1351 and sector 122 toits initial posit-ion. An adjustable stud 144 is secured on a fixedsupport 145 in the path of movement of the sector plate 122 forinterrupting its counterclockwise movement for aligning the slot 121with the slot 119 when in stop position.

A tiltable bar 146 is mounted for tilting movement on a stud 147 andurged in clockwise rotation by a spring 148 secured to the inner end ofthe bar and to the sector plate 122 by a pin 149. The frame 150 of themachine carries a block 151 having an adjustable stud 152 on the endthereof in position to tilt the bar 146 counterclockwise at the end ofthe counterclockwise movement of the sector plate 122. The bar has atapered finger 153 which moves over the endmost wire in the slot 121upon the initial movement of the sector plate 122 in a clockwisedirection, which moves the spring-pressed end of the bar 146 away fromthe head 1'52 and causes it to move clockwise. The sloping end of thefinger 153 functions as a cam to move the bar 146 counterclockwise whenthe finger 143 of the slide moves the wires from the slot 121.

The wires are thus maintained under complete control from the time theyare placed within the hopper to the time they are delivered to theforming fingers. In the hopper the wires are agitated by the oscillatingmovement of fingers 98 so as to be aligned with the opening 106 fromwhich they move into slots 107. The oscillating finger 117 controls thedelivery of the wires from the slot 107 into the slots 118 and 119 fromwhich they are moved into the slot 121 when aligned with the slot 1l19.In any other position of the sector plates 122, the cam surfaces 136retain the wires within the slot 119. When the sector plate 122 isrotated clockwise, the tapered finger 153 on the end of the til-tablebar 146 engages the endmost wire of the group of wires within the slot121 and retains the wires therein while being transported, fromalignment with the slot 119 into alignment with the slot 78 of theforming links 54. After the delivered wires have been moved from theslot 121 into the slot 78, they are retained therein by thespring-pressed balls 79. It

is to be understood that a plurality of the sector plates 122, fingers117 and 98 are employed throughout the length of the hopper 97 and thaton the present machine siX sets of these elements are utilized.

When operating the machine, the swingable and formable links 51 and 52are disposed in extended relation to each other, as illustrated in Fig.6, by the movement of the rams 63 to retracted position to fan out thearms 36 on the pivots on the beam 23. Thereafter, the sector plates 122are rotated clockwise to move a plurality of wires received from theslots 119 into a position of alignment with the slots 78 of the forminglinks into which they are moved by the operation of the fingers 143 pastthe tapered fingers 153 which retain the wires within the slots 121 ofthe sector plates during the clockwise movement thereof. Thereafter, thesector plates are retracted to their initial position and the rams 63move the arms 64 outwardly to collapse the aligned links from theposition illustrated in Fig. 6 to the positions illustrated in Figs. 3,4 and 5. By adjusting the various stop studs carried by the variouslinks, the relative positions of all of the links are thereby controlledso as to produce the degree of bends in the wire as is necessary to takecare of the spring back which will occur when the formed wires areremoved from the links. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 clearly illustrate the amountof over-bend which is required to produce the formed Wire element asillustrated in Fig. 7, in which the lateral bars 57 are disposed inparallel relation to each other. Any length of spacing bars 58 may beproduced in the element by changing the various forming links 54 havingforming portions 154 spaced from a retaining portion 155 to provide aslot 156 for receiving the Wires.

After the rams 63 have been extended and the wires are formed topredetermined shape, the ram 89 is actuated for moving the plate 46which advances the plunger 43 to cause the heads 45 to engage and movethe formed wires from the links. The ram then retracts the plates 46 andthe rams 63 are retracted for again extending the links into alignedrelationship, as illustrated in Fig. 6, after which additional wires arefed to the links and the operation is repeated.

Any fluid may be employed for operating the rams, and it is contemplatedthat air will be employed in the machine hereinafter illustrated,controlled by electrically operated valves which are energized from acontrol panel which produces automatic operation of the machine forcontinuously bending the plurality of wires and ejecting them from theforming links. It is to be understood that links 51 and 52 can also bechanged at points throughout the length of the forming mechanism forlengthening or shortening the torsion bars 57 at points in the length ofthe formed wire element. By changing either of the forming or swinginglinks, the length of the spacing and forming bars of the spring elementmay be changed at any point in the length of wire element formed by themachine.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for forming a length of Wire into predetermined shape,including, in combination, a plurality of forming links having formingportions about which the wire is bent, link bars disposed between saidforming links and pivoted thereto, means for moving the links fromextended aligned relationship to predetermined sinuous relationship withthe link bars revolved substantially and the forming links movedoutwardly and toward each other parallel to their aligned positionsubstantially in the form in which the wire is to be bent, and stopmeans carried by the forming links for regulating their relativeposition at the end of the forming operation to provide a proper shapeto the wire and including a predetermined desired over-bend to take careof the spring back which occurs when the formed wire is moved from thelinks.

2. A machine for bending wire to predetermined form in a singleoperation, including, in combination, a plurality of swingable links,arms pivoted at one end with the opposite ends having the swingablelinks pivoted thereto, a forming link pivoted between the ends ofadjacent swingable links having slots therein disposed in alignedrelation for receiving the wire when the links are disposed in alignedrelation, and means for applying a force at the ends of the links forcollapsing said links into predetermined sinuous relationship to eachother to substantially the form in which the wire is to be bent.

3. A machine for bending wire to predetermined form in a singleoperation, including, in combination, a plurality of swingable links,arms pivoted at one end with the opposite ends having the swingablelinks pivoted thereto, a forming link pivoted between the ends ofadjacent swingable links having slots therein disposed in alignedrelation for receiving the wire when the links are disposed in alignedrelation, means for applying a force at the ends of the links forcollapsing said links into predetermined sinuous relationship to eachother to substantially the form in which the wire is to be bent, andstop means on the forming links for regulating the relative position ofthe forming links to each other when in collapsed position.

4. A machine for bending wire to predetermined [orm in a singleoperation, including, in combination, a plurality of swingable links,pivoted arms on which the swingable links are pivoted, forming linksconnected between adjacent ends of the swingable links having slotstherein for receiving the wire when the links are disposed in alignedrelation, means for applying a force to the ends of the link assemblyfor collapsing said links into predetermined sinuous relationship toeach other to substantially the form in which the wire is to be bent,adjustable stop means on certain of said links for regulating therelative position of the links to each other when in collapsed position,and means including additional links at the ends of the link assemblyfor producing a loop at the wire ends during the forming operation ofthe wire.

5. A machine for bending wire to predetermined form in a singleoperation, including, in combination, a plurality of swingable links,pivoted arms on which the swingable links are pivoted, forming linksconnected between adjacent ends of the swingable links having slotstherein for receiving the wire when the links are disposed in alignedrelation, means for applying a force to the ends of the link assemblyfor collapsing said links into predetermined sinuous relationship toeach other to substantially the form in which the wire is to be bent,adjustable stop means on certain of said links for regulating therelative position of the links to each other when in collapsed position,and means carried by said swing- I able links for ejecting the formedwire from the collapsed links.

6. A machine for bending wire to predetermined form in a singleoperation, including, in combination, a plurality of swingable links,pivoted arms on which the swingable links are pivoted, forming linksconnected between adjacent ends of the swingable links having slotstherein for receiving the wire when the links are disposed in alignedrelation. means for applying a force to the ends of the link assemblyfor collapsing said links into pre determined sinuous relationship toeach other to substantially the form in which the wire is to be bent,adjustable stop means on certain of said links for regulating therelative position of the links to each other when in collapsed position,means carried by said swingable links for ejecting the formed wire fromthe collapsed links, and a plate carried by said machine for engagingand moving all of said ejecting means simultaneously.

'7. In a machine for bending Wire to sinuous form, supporting meansmovable toward each other, swingable links pivoted on each of thesupporting means for substantially 90 swingable movement, forming linkspivoted to adjacent ends of the swingable links for outward movementsubstantially parallel to each other, means for applying a force to theends of the link assembly when the links are in aligned relation formoving said links from substantially aligned to collapsed position, andplungers carried by certain of said supporting means for moving theformed wire from the links when the links are in collapsed position.

8. In a machine for bending wire to sinuous form, supporting meansmovable toward each other, swingable links pivoted on each of thesupporting means for substantially swingable movement, forming linkspivoted to adjacent ends of the swingable links for outward movementsubstantially parallel to each other, means for applying a force to theends of the link assembly when the links are in aligned relation formoving said links from substantially aligned to collapsed position,plungers carried by certain of said supporting means for moving theformed wire from the links when the links are in collapsed position, ahopper carried by said machine for receiving lengths of wire to beformed, and means for receiving and delivering a wire from said hopperto said forming links when said forming and swingable links are disposedin substantially aligned relationship.

9. In a machine for bending wire to sinuous form, supporting meansmovable toward each other, swingable links pivoted on each of thesupporting means for substantially 90 swingable movement, forming linkspivoted to adjacent ends of the swingable links for outward movementsubstantially parallel to each other, means for applying a force to theends of the link assembly when the links are in aligned relation formoving said links from substantially aligned to collapsed position,plungers carried by certain of said supporting means for moving theformed wire from the links when the links are in collapsed position, ahopper carried by said machine for receiving lengths of wire to beformed, means for receiving and delivering a wire from said hopper tosaid forming links when said forming and swingable links are disposed insubstantially aligned relationship, means for agitating said wires insaid hopper for causing them to be delivered therefrom into a deliveryslot, and means for operating said agitating means.

10. In a machine for bending wire to sinuous form, supporting meansmovable toward each other, swingable links pivoted on each of thesupporting means for substantially 90 swingable movement, forming linkspivoted to adjacent ends of the swingable links for outward movementsubstantially parallel to each other, means for applying a force to theends of the link assembly when the links are in aligned relation formoving said links from substantially aligned to collapsed position,plungers carried by certain of said supporting means for moving theformed wire from the links when the links are in collapsed position, ahopper carried by said machine for receiving lengths of wire to beformed, means for receiving and delivering a wire from said hopper tosaid forming links when said forming and swingable links are disposed insubstantially aligned relationship, means for agitating said wires andsaid hopper for causing them to be delivered therefrom into a deliveryslot, means for operating said agitating means, additional meansoscillatable across said slot for controlling the delivery of the wiresin the slot, and means for connecting said oscillating means to saidoperating means for said agitating means.

11. In a machine for bending wire to sinuous form, supporting meansmovable toward each other, swingable links pivoted on each of thesupporting means for substantially 90 swingable movement, forming linkspivoted to adjacent ends of the swingable links for outward movementsubstantially parallel to each other, means for applying a force to theends of the link assembly when the links are in aligned relation formoving said links from substantially aligned to collapsed position,plungers carried by certain of said supporting means for moving theformed wire from the links when the links are in collapsed position, ahopper carried by said machine for receiving and delivering lengths ofwire to be formed from a slot therein. and a pivoted sector having aslot aligned with said hopper slot when in one position and having a camsurface which closes the slot when the sector is advanced past the slotfor delivering a wire to said links.

12. In a machine for bending wire to sinuous form, supporting meansmovable toward each other, swingable links pivoted on each of thesupporting means for substantially 90 swingable movement, forming linkspivoted to adjacent ends of the swingable links for outward movementsubstantially parallel to each other, means for applying a force to theends of the link assembly when the links are in aligned relation formoving said links from substantially aligned to collapsed position,plungers carried by certain of said supporting means for moving theformed wire from the links when the links are in collapsed position, ahopper carried by said machine for receiving and delivering lengths ofwire to be formed from a slot therein, a pivoted sector having a slotaligned with said hopper slot when in one position and having a camsurface which closes the slot when the sector is advanced past the slotfor delivering a wire to said links, advancing means for said sector,and means carried by said sector for retaining the wire therein whilethe sector is advanced.

7 13, In a machine for bending wire tosinuous form, supporting meansmovable toward each other, swingable links pivoted on each of thesupporting means for substantially 90 swingable movement, forming linkspivoted to adjacent ends of the swingable links for outward movementsubstantially parallel to each other, means for applying a force to theends of the link assembly when the links are in aligned relation formoving said links from substantially aligned to collapsed position,plungers carried by certain of said supporting means for moving theformed wire from the links when the links are in collapsed position, ahopper carried by said machine for receiving and delivering lengths ofwire to be formed from a slot therein, a pivoted sector having a slotaligned with said hopper slot when in one position and having a camsurface which closes the slot when the sector is advanced past the slotfor delivering a wire to said links, advancing means for said sector,means carried by said sector for retaining the wire therein while thesector is advanced, and ejector means carried by said sector for movingthe wire past the retaining means to said links.

14. In a machine for bending wire to sinuous form, supporting meansmovable toward each other, swingable links pivoted on each of thesupporting means for substantially 90 swingable movement, forming linkspivoted to adjacent ends of the swingable links for outward movementsubstantially parallel to each other, means for applying a force to theends of the link assembly when the links are in aligned relation formoving said links from substantially aligned to collapsed position,plungers carried by certain of said supporting means for moving theformed wire from the links when the links are in collapsed position, ahopper carried by said machine for receiving and delivering lengths ofwire to be formed from a slot therein, a pivoted sector having a slotaligned with said hopper slot when in one position and having a camsurface which closes the slot when the sector is advanced past the slotfor delivering a Wire to said links, advancing means for said sector,means carried by said sector for retaining the wire therein while thesector is advanced, ejector means carried by said sector for moving thewire past the retaining means to said links, and stop means on one ofsaid forming links for limiting the movement of said sector towire-delivering position.

15. In a wire bending machine for forming irregular convolutions in alength of wire,including, in combination, a base, a plurality of armspivoted on said base, a plurality of swingable links pivoted on the endsof the arms, forming links joining the ends of said swingable links andhaving a slotthe'rein and a forming surface, said swingable and forminglinks being movable into substantially aligned relation to have theslots in the forming links substantially aligned, actuating means forapplying a force to the ends of the link assembly and causing 10 saidlinks to collapse in a predetermined manner relative to each other toform the wire in the slots of the forming links about the formingsurfaces thereof, and adjustable stop means carried by certain of saidlinks for controlling the relative relationship of the links to eachother when in final forming position.

16. In a wire bending machine for forming irregular convolutions in a'length of wire, including, in combination, a base, a plurality of armspivoted on said base, a plurality of swingable links pivoted on the endsof the arms, forming links joining the ends of said swingable links andhaving a slot therein and a forming surface, said swingable and forminglinks being movable into substantially aligned relation to have theslots in the forming links substantially aligned, actuating means forapplying a force to the ends of the link assembly and causing said linksto collapse in a predetermined manner relative to each other to form thewire in the slots of the forming links about the forming surfacesthereof, adjustable stop means carried by certain of said links forcontrolling the relative relationship of the links to each other when infinal forming position, and ejecting means carried by said arms andlinks for engaging and moving the formed wire from said links when infinal forming position.

17. In a wire bending machine for forming irregular convolutions in alength of wire, including, in combination, a base, a plurality of armspivoted on said base, a plurality of swingable links pivoted on the endsof the arms, forming links joining the ends of said swingable links andhaving a slot therein and a forming surface, said swingable and forminglinks being movable into substantially aligned relation to have theslots in the forming links substantially aligned, actuating means forapplying a force to the ends of the link assembly and causing said linksto collapse in a predetermined manner relative to each other to form thewire in the slots of the forming links about the forming surfacesthereof, adjustable stop means carried by certain of said links forcontrolling the relative relationship of the links to each other when infinal forming position, ejecting means carried by said arms and linksfor engaging and moving the formed wire from said links when infinalforming position, a pair of L-shaped links joined to said endmost armsand links, and actuating means secured to adjacent ends of said parallellinks for moving said pair of L-shaped links toward each other causingsaid arms to swing toward each other as the links are collapsed.

18. In a wire bending machine for forming irregular convolutions in alength of wire, including, in combination, a base, a plurality of armspivoted on said base, a plurality of swingable links pivoted on the endsof the arms, forming links joining the ends of said swingable links andhaving a slot therein and a forming surface, said swingable and forminglinks being movable into substantially aligned relation to have theslots in the forming links substantially aligned, actuating means forapplying a force to the ends of the link assembly and causing said linksto collapse in a predetermined manner relative to each other to form thewire in the slots of the forming links about the forming surfacesthereof, adjustable stop means carried by certain of said links forcontrolling the relative relationship of the links to each other when infinal forming position, ejecting means carried by said arms and linksfor engaging and moving the formed wire from said links when in finalforming position, a pair or" L-shaped links joined to said endmost armsand links, actuating means secured to adjacent ends of said parallellinks for moving said pair of L-shaped links toward each other causingsaid arms to swing toward each other as the links are collapsed, a studextending from said L- shaped links, and a forming bar on said L-shapedlinks for receiving and forming a loop in the ends of the wire aboutsaid stud at each end of the formed wire strip.

19. In a wire bending machine for forming irregular convolutions in alength of wire, including, in combination,

a base, a plurality of arms pivoted on said base, a plurality ofswingable links pivoted on the ends of the arms, forming links joiningthe ends of said swingable links and having a slot therein and a formingsurface, said swingable and forming links being movable intosubstantially aligned relation to have the slots in the forming linkssubstantially aligned, actuating means for applying a force to the endsof the link assembly and causing said links to collapse in apredetermined manner relative to each other to form the wire in theslots of the forming links about the forming surfaces thereof,adjustable stop means carried by certain of said links for controllingthe relative relationship of the links to each other when in finalforming position, ejecting means carried by said arms and links forengaging and moving the formed wire from said links when in finalforming position, a pair of L-shaped links joined to said endmost armsand links, actuating means secured to adjacent ends of said parallellinks for moving said pair of L-shaped links toward each other causingsaid arms to swing toward each other as the links are collapsed, a studextending from said L-shaped links, a forming bar on said L-shaped linksfor receiving and forming a loop in the ends of the wire about said studat each end of the formed wire strip, a hopper supported above saidlinks for containing lengths of wire to be formed, means for deliveringone or a plurality of the wires from said hopper to said links, andmeans for moving the wire from said moving means to the slot in saidlinks when the links are in aligned relation.

20. In a wire bending machine for forming irregular convolutions in alength of wire, including, in combination, a base, a plurality of armspivoted on said base, a plurality of swingable links pivoted on the endsof the arms, forming links joining the ends of said swingable links andhaving a slot therein and a forming surface, said swingable and forminglinks being movable into substantially aligned relation to have theslots in the forming links substantially aligned, actuating means forapplying a force to the ends of the link assembly and causing said linksto collapse in a predetermined manner relative to each other to form thewire in the slots of the forming links about the forming surfacesthereof, adjustable stop means carried by certain of said links forcontrolling the relative relationship of the links to each other when infinal forming position, 'ecting means carried by said arms and links forengaging and moving the formed wire from said links when in finalforming position, a pair of L-shaped links joined to said endmost armsand links, actuating means secured to adjacent ends of said parallellinks for moving said pair of L-shaped links toward each other causingsaid arms to swing toward each other as the links are collapsed, a studextending from said L-shaped links, a forming bar on said L-shaped linksfor receiving and forming a loop in the ends of the wire about said studat each end of the formed wire strip, a hopper supported above saidlinks for containing lengths of wire to be formed, means for deliveringone or a plurality of the wires from said hopper to said links, meansfor moving the wire from said moving means to the slot in said linkswhen the links are in aligned relation, means for retaining the wires insaid hopper during the time the wire is moved to the links, means forreleasably retaining the wires in the moving means, and means forretaining the wires in the links during the bending operation.

21. A machine in which a straight length of wire is bent into a sinuousform having adjacent oppositely disposed U-shaped loops which may varyin width, said machine having a plurality of forming links eachcontaining a slot for receiving a portion of a length of wire when theformin g links are in aligned relation, swingable links having the endspivoted to the ends of the forming links and spacing the latter fromeach other, said links being disposed in substantially aligned relationwhen the forming links have the slots thereof in aligned relation, andmeans for swinging said swingable links about the centers thereof andcausing said forming links to move outwardly and toward each other whileretained in substantially parallel relationship for folding loops in thewire having a width the length of the slots.

22. A machine in which a straight length of wire is bent into a sinuousform having adjacent oppositely disposed U-shaped loops which may varyin width, said machine having a plurality of forming links eachcontaining a slot for receiving a portion of a length of wire when theforming links are in aligned relation, swingable links having the endspivoted to the ends of the forming links and spacing the latter fromeach other, said links being disposed in substantially aligned relationwhen the forming links have the slots thereof in aligned relation, andmeans for swinging said swingable links about the centers thereof andcausing said forming links to move outwardly and toward each other whileretained in substantially parallel relationship for folding loops in thewire having a width the length of the slots, some of said forming linksbeing of greater length than the others to provide loops of greaterwidth.

23. A machine in which a straight length of wire is bent into a sinuousform having adjacent oppositely disposed U-shaped loops which may varyin width, said machine having a plurality of forming links eachcontaining a slot for receiving a portion of a length of wire when theforming links are in aligned relation, swingable links having the endspivoted to the ends of the forming links and spacing the latter fromeach other, said links being disposed in substantially aligned relationwhen the forming links have the slots thereof in aligned relation, meansfor swinging said swingable links about the centers thereof and causingsaid forming links to move outwardly and toward each other whileretained in substantially parallel relationship for folding loops in thewire having a width the length of the slots, some of said forming linksbeing of greater length than the others to provide loops of greaterwidth, and adjustable stop means on certain of said links which limitthe movement of the formable links to thereby provide the desired shapeto the loops in the resulting formed wire.

24. A machine in which a straight length of wire is bent into a sinuousform having adjacent oppositely disposed U-shaped loops which may varyin width, said machine having a plurality of forming links eachcontaining a slot for receiving a portion of a length of wire when theforming links are in aligned relation, swingable links having the endspivoted to the ends of the forming links and spacing the latter fromeach other, said links being disposed in substantially aligned relationwhen the forming links have the slots thereof in aligned relation, meansfor swinging said swingable links about the centers thereof and causingsaid forming links to move outwardly and toward each other whileretained in substantially parallel relationship for folding loops in thewire having a width the length of the slots, some of said forming linksbeing of greater length than the others to provide loops of greaterwidth, adjustable stop means on certain of said links which limit themovement of the formable links to thereby provide the desired shape tothe loops in the resulting formed wire, said swingable links beingslightly off center with relation to the aligned slots in said formablelinks to cause the swingable links to swing in a desired direction whenforce is applied to the ends of the links when substantially aligned,and means applying a force to the opposite ends of said links when insubstantially aligned relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (Otherreferences on following page) 13 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,336,611 Paul lNov. 7, 1911 2,549,061 Van Orman Apr. 1, 1924 Muller Jan. 7 1930 867,035V1te111 June 14, 1932 5 565,797

Palmer July 13, 1937 14 Hill Dec. 14, 1943 Dauenhauer Apr. 17, 1951FOREIGN PATENTS France May 24, 1940 Great Britain July 29, 1943

